Top 10 African Animals

1. Cheetah

   

   The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, capable of reaching reliably recorded speeds of 93 to 104 km/h (58 to 65 mph). The cheetah has adaptations for speed, including a lightweight build, long, thin legs, powerful hindlimb muscles... read more

   Beautifully spotted coat and fast hunters. The black lines under their eyes are to cut down the glare from the savanna.

   Sleek and fast, this beautiful hunter looks almost alien when running.

   Cheetahs are fast, amazing, and sneaky. They deserve the number-one spot! Cheetahs rule!

2. African Lion

   

   Lions are awesome. I know almost everything that is fascinating about a lion.

   Seriously, if the lion wasn't in first place, I was going to have a fit.

   Truly the king of the jungle, with his glorious mane and loud roar.

3. African Elephant

   

   African elephants are elephants of the genus Loxodonta. The genus consists of two extant species: the African bush elephant, Loxodonta africana, and the smaller African forest elephant, Loxodonta cyclotis. They are the largest land animals on Earth and are native to various habitats across Africa.

   Stupid African cats! Carnivores don't deserve to be the best. Besides, the African Elephant is the strongest animal in the whole world!

   I like this one because, pretty soon, because of poaching, there won't be any left alive if people don't start protecting them.

   This should be number one! Better than those stupid cheetahs and lions! Elephants are the real kings of the jungle!

4. Hyena

   

   Hyenas, or hyaenas, are carnivorous mammals belonging to the family Hyaenidae. With only four extant species, they represent the fifth-smallest biological family in the order Carnivora. Despite their small number, hyenas play a vital role as both predators and scavengers in their ecosystems.

   Hyenas are my favorite, and did you know that lions are the scavengers (except for the females) and the hyenas are the hunters? I don't know why people say hyenas are evil. In The Lion King they were, but honestly, The Lion King is a made-up movie. Hyenas aren't evil. It's just their nature to hunt and stuff. It's like with any other carnivore. Even wild dogs are carnivores too, so forget people who think hyenas are mean!

   Hyenas aren't what people think. They're clever animals, effective predators, and caring parents. There should be a movie where the hyena is the good guy.

5. Leopard

   

   The leopard is one of the five living big cat species in the genus Panthera. It is among the most adaptable and widespread big cats due to its camouflaged fur, opportunistic hunting behavior, broad diet, and strength that allows it to carry heavy carcasses into trees.... read more

   Leopards are beautiful too, and they actually are as fast as a flamingo that can reach speeds of 35 mph.

   Strong, agile, and graceful. A fascinating animal beyond imagination.

6. Giraffe

   

   Giraffes are tall African hoofed mammals belonging to the genus Giraffa. They are the tallest living terrestrial animals and the largest ruminants on Earth. Traditionally, giraffes were considered a single species, Giraffa camelopardalis, with nine subspecies. In 2025, the IUCN recognized four extant... read more

   There's a place in Kenya called Giraffe Manor, where you can actually have breakfast with giraffes. It looks so amazing to not only see the animals in their habitat but to actually touch and be a part of them, if you get my drift.

7. Crocodile

   

   Crocodiles, or true crocodiles, are large semiaquatic reptiles in the family Crocodylidae that live throughout tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. The term crocodile is sometimes used more broadly to include all living members of the order Crocodylia, which encompasses alligators... read more

   Crocs kill more people than sharks. Sharks don't like the taste of people, but crocodiles do.

8. Hippo

   

   The common hippopotamus, or hippo, is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus. Hippos are known for their massive size, semi-aquatic lifestyle, and territorial behavior in... read more

   They kill more people than sharks and lions.

9. Zebra

   

   Zebras, members of the subgenus Hippotigris, are African equines with distinctive black-and-white striped coats. There are three living species: the Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), plains zebra (E. quagga), and mountain zebra (E. zebra). Stripe patterns vary among individuals and species, with most evidence... read more

10. Rhinoceros

    

    A rhinoceros, commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species, or numerous extinct species, of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. The term can also refer to extinct species in the superfamily Rhinocerotoidea. Two of the extant species are native to Africa, while... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Ruppell’s Vulture

    
12. ?

    African Fish Eagle

    
The Contenders

13. Okapi

    

    The okapi is a giraffid mammal native to the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Although it resembles a zebra because of its striped legs, it is more closely related to the giraffe. The okapi is a solitary and elusive forest-dwelling animal and is classified... read more

    These shy creatures are the international symbol of cryptozoology.

14. African Wild Dog

    

    Also known as the painted dog, this species is endangered, with only 250 individuals left, and the number is only decreasing. Most of this is due to humans using snare traps and road kill. Expanding human settlement is also a problem.

15. Jackal

    

    Jackals are small omnivorous mammals belonging to the dog family, Canidae. Although the term "jackal" has historically been used for various small canid species, it now commonly refers to three: the black-backed and side-striped jackals of Africa, both classified in the genus Lupulella, and the golden... read more

16. Baboon

    

    Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. Six extant species are generally recognized, and they are known for their distinctive social structures and adaptability to various environments. Baboons are primarily terrestrial and... read more

    Baboons are like humans. They act like us.

17. Sun Squirrel

    

18. Eland

    

19. Honey Badger

    

    The honey badger, also known as the ratel, is a mammal native to Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. It is known for its strength, fearlessness, and ability to fend off much larger predators. Despite its small size, the honey badger has a reputation for toughness and resilience.

    The most fearless animal ever.

20. Pangolin

    

21. Gorilla

    

    Gorillas are herbivorous, predominantly ground-dwelling great apes that inhabit the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species, the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla, and four subspecies. Gorilla DNA is highly similar to human DNA, ranging from 95% to 99... read more

    Ah, gorillas. Africa's largest, highly intelligent, strong, endangered, and gentle giants among great apes. They share up to 98 percent of DNA with humans.

22. Serval

    

    The serval is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa. It is known for its long legs, slender body, large ears, and coat marked with bold black spots and stripes.

    Servals inhabit grasslands, wetlands, and other areas with dense vegetation, where their excellent hearing helps them detect prey... read more

23. Dik-dik

    

    Dik-diks are four species of small antelope native to eastern and southern Africa. These animals generally stand no more than about 16 inches tall at the shoulder. They are herbivores and feed primarily on foliage, shoots, fruits, berries, and other plant materials.

    It's a small antelope that lives in Eastern and southern Africa.

24. Ostrich

    

    The ostrich, or common ostrich, is one of two extant species of large flightless birds native to Africa. It is the only extant member of the genus Struthio and belongs to the family Struthionidae. In 2014, the Somali ostrich was officially recognized as a separate species from the common ostrich.

    The tallest and the fastest bird on land.

25. Aye-aye

    

    The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a lemur native to Madagascar. It has rodent-like teeth that grow continuously and a long, thin middle finger used for locating and extracting insects from tree bark. The aye-aye is a nocturnal primate and is considered one of the most unusual members of the... read more

26. Vulture

    

27. Impala

    

    The impala is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The sole member of the genus Aepyceros, it was described by German zoologist Hinrich Lichtenstein in 1812. Two subspecies are recognized: the common impala and the larger, darker black-faced impala, which is mainly found in Namibia... read more